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The latest episode of Shark Tank India 4 turned fiery as two of the show’s biggest investors, Anupam Mittal and Namita Thapar, locked horns over a business pitch. The drama unfolded when husband-wife duo Disha and Gaurav presented Gofig, a startup tackling India’s massive food wastage problem by selling surplus and near-expiry products. While their business pitch was compelling, what truly stole the spotlight was the intense debate among the sharks.
The Pitch That Sparked a Heated Debate
Disha and Gaurav shared a staggering statistic: India discards food worth Rs 50,000 crore annually just because it has reached its expiration date. Their solution? Partner with brands and sell these products through alternative channels. The couple sought Rs 50 lakh for 2% equity, valuing their startup at Rs 25 crore.
But instead of the usual investment deliberations, the pitch took a backseat to a fiery exchange between Anupam Mittal, the founder of Shaadi.com, and Namita Thapar, Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals.
Anupam Mittal Questions Gofig’s Need for Funding
Right from the start, Anupam questioned the couple’s background, particularly focusing on Gaurav’s family business. He then turned to Namita Thapar, making a pointed remark about her own inheritance of her father’s company. Things escalated when Anupam directly asked the couple, “Do you even need to work for money now?”
Namita was visibly taken aback and shot back, “What kind of question is that?”
Unfazed, Anupam defended his stance, saying, “It’s a very relevant question, Namita. Let me finish. This is Shark Tank, it’s capitalism in its true form. If you’re uncomfortable with that question, you shouldn’t be here.”
Namita Stands Her Ground
While Anupam remained unconvinced about Gofig’s business model, Namita countered his approach, arguing that profit and purpose could coexist. She emphasized that businesses can make money while also creating social impact. However, despite her support for Gofig’s vision, she eventually decided not to invest.
All Sharks Back Out – No Deal for Gofig
Anupam maintained his skepticism and advised Gofig to move away from a B2B model, instead suggesting they open physical retail stores. “India mein value-seeking, bargain-hunting customers ki line lag jayegi. I don’t fundamentally agree with your thesis, and fundamentally, I don’t like where this is going, so I’m out.”
Other sharks, including boAt co-founder Aman Gupta and OYO founder Ritesh Agarwal, sided with Anupam, agreeing that physical stores would be a better fit for the concept. Even Lenskart founder Peyush Bansal remained unconvinced about investing at this early stage. With all the sharks stepping back, Gofig walked away without a deal.
A Fiery Episode That Left Viewers Divided
The explosive debate between Anupam and Namita sparked strong reactions among fans. Some viewers praised Anupam for his no-nonsense approach to business, while others felt he was unnecessarily harsh. Namita’s supporters, on the other hand, applauded her for standing up to Anupam and advocating for businesses with a social impact.
This heated moment on Shark Tank India 4 proves that while entrepreneurship is about numbers and scalability, the debate on whether businesses should prioritize profit over purpose continues to be a polarizing one.
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